Veterinary Anesthesia

Curriculum Guideline

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Course
AHTT 2108
Discontinued
Yes
Course Code
AHTT 2108
Descriptive
Veterinary Anesthesia
Department
Animal Health Technology
Faculty
Science & Technology
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester Length
15 weeks
Max Class Size
30
Contact Hours
5 hours/week: 3 lecture / 2 hours laboratory
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Lab
Learning Activities

This course includes 3 hours of classroom instruction as well as 2 hours of laboratory activity per week.

Course Description
This course combines both theory and practical aspects of veterinary anesthesia for both small and large animals. Topics include the calculation of drug doses, pre-anesthetic patient preparation, administration of local anesthetics, sedatives, induction drugs and inhalant anesthetics, monitoring patients under general anesthesia, detection and management of anesthetic complications, as well as post-operative patient care and pain prevention. Knowledge and understanding of inhalant anesthetic machines and monitoring equipment will also be covered.

Enrollment is limited to students in the Animal Health Technology Program.
Course Content

The major topics in the course include:

1.     The anesthesia machine and its component parts:

  • Compressed gas systems
  • Scavenging/waste gas evacuation
  • Breathing circuits
  • Circle breathing system
  • Reservoir bags
  • Carbon dioxide absorbent granules
  • Endotracheal tubes

 

2.          Patient assessment in preparation for anesthesia:

  • Physical and temperament evaluation
  • Pre-anesthesia tests

 

3.          Anesthesia premedication:

  • Sedatives
  • Tranquilizers
  • Analgesic drugs
  • Sedative reversal agents
  • Anticholinergic agents

 

4.          Anesthesia induction:

  • Induction techniques- mask induction
  • Induction techniques-tank induction
  • Induction techniques- injectable
  • Injectable anesthetic induction drugs
  • Endotracheal intubation

 

5.        Anesthesia Maintenance:

  • Inhalant anesthesia maintenance
  • Injectable anesthesia maintenance

 

6.          Anesthesia Support:

  • The concept of controlled poisoning
  • Fluid therapy
  • Heat supplementation
  • Ocular protection
  • Assisted breathing

 

7.        Anesthesia Monitoring Techniques:

  • Cardiovascular monitoring
  • Respiratory monitoring
  • Species specific monitoring priorities
Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course students will be able to:

  1. understand the function of both large and small animal inhalant anesthetic machines.
  2. operate an inhalant anesthetic machine for the delivery of general anesthesia to companion and food animals.
  3. understand the basic pharmacology of drugs used in implementation of local anesthesia, sedation and inhalant anesthesia.
  4. calculate sedative and anesthetic drug dosages for an individual animal.
  5. have a working knowledge of the routes of anesthesia drug administration used in veterinary medicine.
  6. monitor the depth of anesthesia.
  7. use the following anesthetic monitoring devices to detect anesthesia related problems: 
  • Esophageal stethoscope
  • Doppler blood pressure monitor
  • Oscillometric blood pressure monitor
  1. intubate companion and food animal species.
  2. understand the function of compressed gas delivery systems associated with the inhalant anesthesia machine.
  3. understand the occupational hazards associated with workplace exposure to anesthetic drugs.
  4. intervene during anesthesia emergency situations.
  5. exhibit a working knowledge of anesthesia emergency drugs.
Means of Assessment

Quizzes                                    20-30%

Assignments                             15-35

Attendance & Participation             10

Final Exam                                20-35__

                                                100%

 

Grades:      A+ 95-100,     A 90-94,      A- 85-89,      B+ 80-84,      B 75-79,      B- 70-74,

 

                   C+ 65-69,       C 60-64,      C- 55-59,      P 50-54,        F 0-49.

 

Textbook Materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students

 

  1. Lake, T.  Dosage Calculation for Veterinary Nurses and Technicians.  Current ed., Butterworth Heinemann Publishing. (required).
  2. McCurnin, D.M. & Bassert, J.M.  Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians.  Current ed., Elsevier   (required).
  3.  McKelvey D., Hollingshead, W.K.  Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia.  Elsevier Press. Current ed.,(required).
  4.  Wanamaker, BP & Massey, K.L.  Applied Pharmacology for the Veterinary Technician 3 Current ed., Saunders-Elsevier (required).
  5.  Romich, J.A., 2005.  Fundamentals of Pharmacology for Veterinary Technicians.  Thomson Delmar Learning.  (recommended). 
Prerequisites

AHTT 1203 Veterinary Care 2

Which Prerequisite
AHTT 2304